Novel organic fungicide for use against fusarium wilt

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for the prevention, treatment and/or management of fusarium wilt on plants prone to such fungus. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises the steps of providing a fungicidal composition comprising karanj oil; applying the composition on the plants; wherein the step of applying is repeated as necessary and can be done until a day before harvest. In another preferred embodiment the invention comprises an aqueous fungicidal composition comprising karanj oil. The composition may further include fermented aloe vera extracts, a natural surfactant, and/or water as a solvent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novel agricultural input created to treatfungal diseases and more specifically, to the treatment or management offusarium wilt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Banana is an important crop for food security and rural livelihoodsparticularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America and Caribbean. Thispopular crop is now threatened by a new race (Tropical Race 4-TR4) of asoil borne disease known as Fusarium wilt (FW). Currently, this race isaffecting 19 sites in 10 countries mostly in Southeast Asia, and 25countries are considered at immediate risk in Asia, Near East andAfrica. Preliminary assessment of scientists indicates that TR4 couldpotentially spread up to 1.6 million ha by 2040 if no significantinterventions are instituted. This represents 17 percent of current areain production and corresponds to annual production potential of 36million tonnes. Potential losses in these areas could have substantialsocio-economic impacts on livelihoods along the banana value chain.

Fusarium wilt is a serious disease of banana for which there is nospecific product which can manage the disease and now this product canmanage fusarium wilt in banana. It is a widespread plant disease causedby fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Fusarium oxysporum is a soil-inhabitingfungus that can infect a number of plants and is particularlydevastating when it attacks crops such as melons, bananas, tomatoes,etc. When it attacks bananas, it is often referred to as the Panamadisease.

This disease is highly epidemic mainly in tropical countries where thetemperature of the soil tends to be above 75° F. It can for long periodsof time in the soil without infecting plants. This resilience anduncommon toughness make this fungus a particularly dangerous enemy forlarge plantations, farms and anyone who subsist primarily on a diet offoods that can be infected by this fungus.

Infected plants are typically shorter than disease-free plants. Infectedplants have leaves which turn pale green to golden yellow. The leavessubsequently wilt die and fall off. Elsewhere on the plant, there is apresence of visible dark streaks in the xylem tissue of the roots andlower stem, and the roots may begin to deteriorate.

Currently, several methods are employed to control fusarium wilt eachone with a varying degree of effectiveness. One of those involves theremoval and destruction of the leaves infected by the fungus. Moreover,using clean seeds helps in the control of the spread of the disease.Crop rotation is not a method of control as the fungus can survive forlong periods of time in the soil without living off a host plant.

The application of synthetic fungicides is perhaps the most common formof chemical control of the fungus. The fungicide are applied to the soilsurrounding the plant of interest. Although some forms of the fungushave developed resistance to fungicides.

The current best approach of control the fungus is to develop and plantnew varieties of the plants which are resistant to the fungus.

Prior to treatment by chemical fungicides it is desirable that infectedleaves be removed in order to increase the possibility of tree survival.Although fungicides have improved over the years, the pathogen has beenshown to have developed some resistance. This, in turn, requires a morefrequent use the synthetic fungicide and increases the impact on theenvironment and consequently on the health of workers in the industry,especially those handling the chemicals.

In light of the prior art, there exists a clear need for a fungicidewhich does not have the drawbacks of currently available fungicides tohelp in the fight against fusarium wilt. Bananas are clearly a crop ofsignificant importance for most of the world. Its significance is evengreater in countries where they are grown and they form part of thestaples of the diet of the population. Such a widespread and difficultto control fungus has an immediate and critical impact on those peopleand as such a better method to control this fungus is required and longoverdue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anovel organic fungicide comprising a plant extract which has the abilityto prevent, reduce or eliminate the appearance, growth or spread offusarium wilt.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan aqueous fungicidal composition comprising Karanj oil.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan aqueous fungicidal composition comprising Karanj oil and fermentedaloe vera extracts.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan aqueous fungicidal composition comprising Karanj oil; fermented aloevera extracts and a natural surfactant.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an organic fungicidal composition comprising Karanjin.Preferably, the composition further comprises a surfactant, such ashibiscus leaf extract. Preferably, the composition further comprisesfermented extracts of aloe vera. Preferably, the composition furthercomprises water as a solvent.

The inventors have unexpectedly found that a composition comprisingkaranj oil, hibiscus leaf extract and fermented extracts of aloe veraprovided surprising control and management of the fusarium wilt onbanana tree trunks. In fact, upon testing a composition according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention it was determined that 95%of the trees had no traces of fusarium wilt. The advantages of such acomposition are substantial given the increasing environmentalregulations prohibiting or severely limiting the use of syntheticfungicides such as those mentioned previously. Not only are syntheticfungicides inherently dangerous when it comes to consumption but theyalso pose a great threat to waterways as well as the soil on which theyend up. In certain countries, regulations do not permit the use ofsynthetic fungicides within 60 feet of any roadways and in some casesalso 60 feet from any waterway. When taking this into account there is aclear disadvantage for even a small farmer of utilitizing suchpesticides as the restrictions prevent the cultivation of large tractsof land.

Because the compositions according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, are not synthesized by man, such environmentalrestrictions do not apply. In fact, the natural origination of thecomponents of a preferred embodiment of the present invention allow itto be used in substantially all of the possible cultivation areas in theworld. Moreover, as it does not fall under the definition of syntheticfungicide, the use thereof would allow the cultivation of plants beyondthe 60-foot limit enacted by regulations. Hence, plants can becultivated closer to roads and waterways without negatively impactingthe environment as all the components are naturally sourced.

Karanjin is a furanoflavonol, a type of flavonoid obtained from theseeds of the karanja tree, a wild tree native to southern India. It iswidespread and is an important source of bio-fuel as a substitute fordiesel and to run power grid systems to run water pumps. Karanja isknown as a herbal medicine mostly used for the treatment of skindiseases. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,karanjin is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 5 wt % of the totalweight of the composition. Preferably, it is present in an amountranging from 1 to 3 wt % and even more preferably, from 1 to 2 wt. %. Amost preferred composition comprises karanjin at 1.37 wt %.

Fermented extracts of aloe vera can be obtained by fermenting the fleshof the plant. This yields among other compounds, lactic acid bacteria(LAB) which have antimicrobial activity. According to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the combination of karanj oil andfermented extracts of aloe vera yields a potentiated fungicidalcomposition which has a particular affinity for the reduction, control,management and/or eradication of fusarium wilt fungus. Hence, applying apreferred composition of the present invention to banana tree leaveswould help in eliminating or at least substantially minimizing thepresence of such fungus. In large monoculture farms, this compositionwould represent a number of advantages. It would eliminate the need tomonitor water discharges of synthetic fungicides, as it is made withnatural products. It also allows to use a greater part of the potentialarable surface area as it is not affected by the environmentalrestrictions applicable to synthetic fungicides. Advantageously, as thecomposition according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis an organic formulation, it does not leave any residue. Aftereliminating the fungus in question, the composition's components breakdown into water, oxygen and carbon dioxide and, as such, makes it thebest organic fungicide available. Additionally, a preferred embodimentof the present invention has exhibited natural growth enhancing effectby increasing the overall growth of the plant with more pronouncedeffect seen on the leaves in terms of increased width as well as inlength.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thesurfactant is a naturally occurring surfactant. Preferably, it is ahibiscus leaf extract. The hibiscus leaf extracts has naturalsurfactants in the form of saponins which act as surfactants to theorganic formulation by way of reducing surface tension which enables theproduct to spread on the leaf surface and make the active ingredientavailable to act the fungus efficiently.

Other naturally occurring compounds deemed to be suitable alternativefor hibiscus include soap nuts. Other natural surfactants consideredwithin the scope of the present invention include: coco glucoside, aswell as decyl glucoside both derived from natural sources.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an organic composition to manage fusarium wilt effectively. Itworks on fungal diseases particular to banana trees but also works onother plant fungal diseases too.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is provided an organic fungicide with natural growth promotingeffect on plants.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a composition comprising plant extracts and plant oils as perthe following:

-   -   Karanj oil—1.27% (0.5 to 5 wt % of the total weight of the        composition) Karanjin content in Karanj Oil is 0.002%    -   Hibiscus leaf extract—38 wt % of the total weight of the        composition—(preferably 30 to 40 wt % of the total weight of the        composition);    -   Aloe vera extracts (fermented)—56.9 wt % of the total weight of        the composition (preferably 40 to 60 wt %); and    -   water 3.83% (preferably 3 to 5 wt %)

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda food product classified as ‘clean food’ grown in the presence of anaqueous fungicidal composition comprising Karanj oil. Preferably, thecomposition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts. Preferably,the composition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts and anatural surfactant. More preferably, the Karanj oil is present in anamount ranging from 1 to 5 wt % of the total weight of the composition.More preferably, the fermented aloe vera extracts are present in anamount ranging from 40 to 60 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition. More preferably, the natural surfactant is present in anamount ranging from 30 to 60 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition. Even more preferably, the natural surfactant is present inan amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda food product classified as ‘residue-free’ grown in the presence of anaqueous fungicidal composition comprising Karanj oil. Preferably, thecomposition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts. Preferably,the composition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts and anatural surfactant. More preferably, the Karanj oil is present in anamount ranging from 1 to 5 wt % of the total weight of the composition.More preferably, the fermented aloe vera extracts are present in anamount ranging from 40 to 60 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition. More preferably, the natural surfactant is present in anamount ranging from 30 to 60 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition. Even more preferably, the natural surfactant is present inan amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda food product grown with an exposure to an aqueous fungicidalcomposition comprising Karanj oil. Preferably, the composition furthercomprises fermented aloe vera extracts. Preferably, the compositionfurther comprises fermented aloe vera extracts and a natural surfactant.More preferably, the Karanj oil is present in an amount ranging from 1to 5 wt % of the total weight of the composition. More preferably, thefermented aloe vera extracts are present in an amount ranging from 40 to60 wt % of the total weight of the composition. More preferably, thenatural surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 30 to 60 wt % ofthe total weight of the composition. Even more preferably, the naturalsurfactant is present in an amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt % of thetotal weight of the composition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Organic food is defined by The Department for Agriculture and RuralAffairs (DEFRA) as: ‘Organic food is the product of a farming systemwhich avoids the use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides; growthregulators and livestock feed additives. Irradiation and the use ofgenetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products produced from or byGMOs are generally prohibited by organic legislation.’

Organic agriculture is similarly defined by DEFRA as: ‘Organicagriculture is a systems approach to production that is working towardsenvironmentally, socially and economically sustainable production.Instead, the agricultural systems rely on crop rotation, animal andplant manures, some hand weeding and biological pest control.’

The Clean Food Standard is a voluntary best-practice standard for foodproducers aimed at identifying fresh grown foods that meet exceptionalstandards of product purity. The standard extends the concept of purityembodied in national Clean Air and Clean Water regulations into the foodarena. Specifically, the standard addresses four areas of potentialconcern: 1) pesticide residues, 2) food pathogens, 3) industrialcontaminants and heavy metals; and 4) GMOs. The Clean Food Standard isintended to assist commercial, government and institutional buyers aswell as consumers make better informed decisions about the fresh grownfoods they purchase in terms of product purity considerations, therebyprotecting the health and welfare of consumers by limiting their risk ofexposure to potentially harmful residues and pathogens in the foodsupply. The Clean Food Standard is also intended to provide marketplacerecognition to food producers who are voluntarily taking exceptionalmeasures to protect the purity of the food they produce, therebyencouraging food producers to adopt pest management regimes, growingpractices and food handling methods that minimize potential harm tohuman health and the environment from pesticide exposure, foodpathogens, and other contaminants. Further, the Clean Food Standard isintended to serve as the basis for specific market claims, to becertified by recognized independent third parties who have no ownershipor brokerage interest in the foods being certified, and who have novested interest in the outcome of a given certification. The Clean FoodStandard is also intended to define product purity requirements that canbe used to inform the development of broader national standards forsustainable agricultural practices.

In light of the Clean Food Standards, the definition of a Clean Food is‘a fresh grown food product that complies with the requirements setforth in this Standard.’

The “limit of detection” (LOD) is the limit below which a laboratorycannot confirm the presence of a specific residue in a given commodity.For pesticides, LODs are established in accordance FDA PAM II protocolsfor pesticides. For heavy metals, LODs are established in accordancewith EPA protocols for ICP-MS. For other industrial chemicals, LODs areestablished in accordance with EPA 600-series protocols. The purityrequirements of a Clean Food include synthetic pesticides with US EPAtolerances. Therefore, a clean food product shall be shown to be free ofpesticide residues based on LODs for all registered synthetic pesticideswith established tolerances. For those crops that have a pulp-onlytolerance (e.g., honeydew, cantaloupe, banana), or for those crops thatare tested for edible portion only in accordance with FDA PAM IIprotocols (e.g., corn, avocado), only the edible portion shall berequired to be free of pesticide residues, based on the laboratory LOD.By or before 2010, all LODs must, at a minimum, meet de minimus risklevels.

In Canada, the maximum residue limit for pesticides is assessed byconsidering that the residue definition upon which maximum residuelimits (MRLs) are based typically includes the parent chemical and oftenincludes corresponding metabolites. In some cases, a chemical may havemultiple residue definitions, for example, between food crops andlivestock commodities. The residue definition for all chemicals withestablished MRLs regulated under the Pest Control Products Act arelisted in a table which reflects the content previously found in MRLlistings under “Chemical Name of Substance”. MRLs established in Canadamay be found using the Maximum Residue Limit Database on the MaximumResidue Limits for Pesticides webpage. The database allows users tosearch for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control ProductsAct, both for pesticides or for food commodities. There are over 400chemicals listed on the Canadian website which produce at least onemetabolite which can be of concern upon consumption of a foodstuffcontaining such.

Bananas are never included in the list of the ‘Dirty Dozen’, the mostpesticide and fungicide contaminated fruits and vegetables sold instores. However, that is not to say that they are free of any syntheticchemicals, nor does it mean that farmers growing bananas are shelteredfrom the harmful effects of such chemicals.

While it is commonplace knowledge that pesticides are used to protectcrops against insects, weeds, fungi and other pests. It is alsocommonplace knowledge that pesticides are potentially toxic to humansand can have both acute and chronic health effects, depending on thequantity and ways in which a person is exposed. Some of the older,cheaper pesticides can remain for years in soil and water. Thesechemicals have been banned from agricultural use in developed countries,but they are still used in many developing countries. The greatest dirtysecret of pesticides and fungicides is that the people who face thegreatest health risks from exposure to pesticides are those who comeinto contact with them at work, in their home or garden.

There are over 1000 known pesticides used around the world to protectfood crops from damage or destruction by a variety of pests. Eachpesticide has different properties and toxicological effects. Thetoxicity of a pesticide depends on its function and other factors. Forexample, insecticides tend to be more toxic to humans than herbicides.The same chemical can have different effects at different doses (howmuch of the chemical a person is exposed to). It can also depend on theroute by which the exposure occurs (such as swallowing, inhaling, ordirect contact with the skin).

What is less known is that pesticides are among the leading causes ofdeath by self-poisoning, in particular in low- and middle-incomecountries. Because of their inherent toxicity and due to the fact thatthey are deliberately spread in the environment, the production,distribution, and use of pesticides require strict regulation andcontrol. Regular monitoring of residues in food and the environment isalso required. The most at-risk population are people who are directlyexposed to pesticides. This includes agricultural workers who applypesticides, and other people in the immediate area during and rightafter pesticides are spread. The general population—who are not in thearea where pesticides are used—is exposed to significantly lower levelsof pesticide residues through food and water.

Pesticides and fungicides can prevent large crop losses and willtherefore continue to play a role in agriculture. However, the effectson humans and the environment of exposure to pesticides are a continuingconcern.

It is critical that the use of synthetic chemicals in the assistance offood production be limited as much as possible so that the benefits notonly outweigh the inherent risks associated with the use of suchproducts but preferably should provide farmers and people handling suchproducts with a much safer workplace environment (storage, handling,disposal, etc.) than is currently required by the extremely laxregulations in many countries. It is important to be reminded of thefact that the use of pesticides to produce food, both to feed localpopulations and for export, should comply with good agriculturalpractices regardless of the economic status of a country. As such,farmers should limit, both for their own safety but also because oftheir critical contribution to the food chain the amount of pesticideused to the minimum necessary to protect their crops.

It is also possible, under certain circumstances, to produce foodwithout the use of synthetic pesticides. This is the ideal case, wherethe farmers can attend to their crops safely while being capable ofproducing large amounts of food both for their own families, fortransactions in the local market as well as for exporting to othercountries.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecomposition is sprayed on the ground close to a banana tree plant so asto soak the roots and prevent/reduce/destroy the presence of fusariumwilt on the plant. Preferably, the product is drenched around the rootzone to manage the plant disease. It is hypothesized by the inventorsthat the mode of action of a composition according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is by preventing the formation ofspores and eventually the spread of fungus is managed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the usecomposition will produce a food product classified as ‘clean food’.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the usecomposition will produce a food product classified as ‘residue-freefood’ or ‘residue-free product’ or ‘residue-free food product’.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Karanjoil is present in an amount ranging from 1 to 5 wt. %. Preferably also,the fermented aloe vera extracts are present in an amount ranging from40 to 60 wt. %. Preferably, the natural surfactant is present in anamount ranging from 30 to 60 wt. %. More preferably, the naturalsurfactant is present in an amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt. %.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda use of the composition described herein, for the treatment, preventionand/or management of fusarium wilt.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for the prevention, treatment and/or management of fusariumwilt on plants prone to such fungus, said method comprising the stepsof:

-   -   providing a fungicidal composition comprising karanj oil;    -   applying said composition on said plants;    -   wherein said step of applying is repeated as necessary and can        be done until the day before harvest.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for the stimulation of the growth of a plant prone to thefungus fusarium wilt, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a fungicidal composition comprising karanj oil;    -   applying said composition on said plants;        wherein said step of applying is repeated as necessary and can        be done until the day before harvest. Preferably, said        composition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts.        Preferably also, said composition further comprises a natural        surfactant. Preferably also, said composition further comprises        water as a solvent.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecomposition has both anti-fungal properties and growth stimulatingproperties, which while increasing the growth of the plant and it hasshown to increase the plant survival rate to almost 95%.

There are no known major fungicidal products which effectively manageFusarium wilt in bananas. The economic impact caused by fusarium wilt isquite large and it leads to losses in the hundreds of millions ofdollars per year. The composition according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, costs less than synthetic fungicides and haspractically no after-market costs (no clean-up costs, no lawsuitsbecause of toxicity unlike some synthetic products, no water dischargecontrol measures necessary, greater proportion of the land can be used,etc.). Moreover, it manages the disease effectively and has an addedadvantage of accelerating the growth of banana tree plants. It has beenreported that the use of a composition according to the presentinvention has increased the yield of each banana tree by up to 20-25%more bananas as well as providing larger bananas than untreated orplants treated with chemical pesticides.

Even organic bananas, which are grown using the organic guidelines canbe treated with synthetic fungicide. The rules of application requirecovering the banana fruits with a bag and interrupting the spraying ofthe fungicide at least 14 days prior to the harvest. Moreover, it isimportant to note that despite the “organic” labelling the produce maystill be exposed to synthetic fungicide (i.e. not even covered by abag).

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theapplication of a composition of the present invention would allow afarmer to apply said composition on the bananas without having to coverthem in a plastic bag. This has a three-fold advantage, less workforcenecessary to cover the banana plants, no usage of plastic bags andsubsequent disposal thereof and maintaining a clean food labellingstandard.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theapplication of a composition of the present invention would allow afarmer to have fewer dead banana tree leaves. Dead leaves due toinfection from a fungi must be removed quickly to prevent the spreadingof the fungal infections to other leaves and ultimately to the entireplant. The fact that such a composition provides the farmer with such anoutstanding performance against fungal infections would allow him toemploy fewer people whose sole job is to walk up and down the bananagrove and cutting off infected leaves.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecomposition has no specific disadvantages in comparison to the syntheticfungicides being currently used. Nonetheless, it is preferable to takecare when using the fungicide according to a preferred embodiment onplants by using appropriate eye protection and nose masks to prevent anypotential damage.

Flesh Testing of Fungicide

Testing to determine the absorption of fungicide into the flesh ofbananas was conducted in order to eventually determine whether a naturalfungicide would avoid such drawback. Testing was conducted at theUniversity of Guelph Agriculture and Food Laboratory in order to assessthe pesticide and fungicide content of a variety of bananas obtained onthe shelves of a Canadian supermarket.

Bananas obtained from six different sources (3 regulars and 3 organics)are labelled as #1 to #3 (for both regular and organic sources). Thefirst series of testing involved assessing the content ofethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDC) in the flesh of the bananaspurchased. Table #1 provides a summary of the results from the testing.

TABLE #1 Results of testing of banana flesh for presence of EBDCcompounds Sample Test Results Banana #1 EBDC Screen Detected(ethylenebisdithiocarbamates < MQL) Banana #2 EBDC Screen Detected(ethylenebisdithiocarbamates < MQL) Banana #3 EBDC Screen Not detectedBanana (organic #1) EBDC Screen Not detected Banana (organic #2) EBDCScreen Not detected Banana (organic #3) EBDC Screen Not detected EBDC'sare measured as CS2 and reported as Zineb equivalent. EBDC MDL = 0.03ppm, MQL = 0.05 ppm

The second series of testing by GC-MS/MS multiresidue screen (Method ID:TOPS-142) was done to assess the presence of pesticides (as well astheir content and identity) in the flesh of the bananas purchased. Table#2 provides a summary of the results from the testing.

TABLE #2 Results of testing of banana flesh for presence of pesticidesusing a GC-MS/MS multiresidue screen (Method ID: TOPS-142) Sample TestResults Banana #1 Pesticide screen Detected Banana #1 Chlorpyrifos <MQLBanana #1 Myclobutanil 0.040 ppm Banana #1 Azoxystrobin 0.042 ppm Banana#1 bifenthrin <MQL Banana #2 Pesticide screen Detected Banana #2Chlorpyrifos 0.011 ppm Banana #2 Azoxystrobin 0.0094 ppm  Banana #2bifenthrin <MQL Banana #3 Pesticide screen Detected Banana #3Myclobutanil 0.089 ppm Banana #3 Azoxystrobin 0.034 ppm Banana #3bifenthrin 0.073 ppm Banana (organic #1) Pesticide screen Not detectedBanana (organic #2) Pesticide screen Not detected Banana (organic #3)Pesticide screen Detected Banana (organic #3) Tebuconazole <MDL Banana(organic #3) chlorpyrifos <MDL Notes: <MQL = Less than the minimumquantification limit. <MDL = Less than the minimum detection limit.Presence of the compound confirmed by GC-MS/MS but at less than thedefined quantification or detection limit for that compound using thismethod.

The third series of testing by LC-MS/MS multiresidue screen (Method ID:TOPS-142) was done to assess the presence of pesticides (as well astheir content and identity) in the flesh of the bananas purchased. Table#3 provides a summary of the results from the testing.

TABLE #3 Results of testing of banana flesh for presence of pesticidesusing a LC-MS/MS multiresidue screen (Method ID: TOPS-142) Sample TestResults Banana #1 Pesticide screen Detected Banana #1 Fenpropimorph <MQLBanana #1 Thiabendazole 0.018 ppm Banana #1 Fenpropidin <MDL Banana #2Pesticide screen Detected Banana #2 Pyriproxyfen 0.0066 ppm Banana #2Fenpropidin <MDL Banana #2 Fenpropimorph <MDL Banana #3 Pesticide screenDetected Banana #3 Pyriproxyfen 0.13 ppm Banana #3 Fenpropidin <MDLBanana #3 Fenpropimorph 0.018 ppm Banana #3 Pyrimethanil <MDL Banana #3Spiroxamine (isomer 1) <MDL Banana (organic #1) Pesticide screenDetected Banana (organic #1) Fenpropidin <MDL Banana (organic #1)Fenpropimorph 0.0037 ppm Banana (organic #2) Pesticide screen DetectedBanana (organic #2) Fenpropidin <MQL Banana (organic #2) Fenpropimorph<MQL Banana (organic #3) Pesticide screen Detected Banana (organic #3)Fenpropidin <MDL Banana (organic #3) Fenpropimorph <MDL Notes: <MQL =Less than the minimum quantification limit. <MDL = Less than the minimumdetection limit. Presence of the compound confirmed by GC-MS/MS but atless than the defined quantification or detection limit for thatcompound using this method.

The testing data is a clear indication that despite all of the bestefforts deployed, even bananas labelled ‘organic’ yield fruit whichflesh contains pesticide residues. The above testing is proof that aresidue-free product, such as a banana has still yet to be achieved onlarge monocultures as those are prone to infestations of insects,fungus, parasites or the like.

While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail forpurposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the relevant arts, once they have been made familiar withthis disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be madewithout departing from the true scope of the invention in the appendedclaims.

1. An aqueous fungicidal composition especially adapted for managementof fusarium wilt on plants, said comprising Karanj oil.
 2. The aqueousfungicidal composition according to claim 1 further comprising:fermented aloe vera extracts.
 3. The aqueous fungicidal compositionaccording to claim 1 further comprising: a natural surfactant.
 4. Theaqueous fungicidal composition according to claim 1 where the Karanj oilis present in an amount ranging from 1 to 5 wt. % of the total weight ofthe composition.
 5. The aqueous fungicidal composition according toclaim 2 where the fermented aloe vera extracts are present in an amountranging from 40 to 60 wt. % of the total weight of the composition. 6.The aqueous fungicidal composition according to claim 3 where thenatural surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 30 to 60 wt. %of the total weight of the composition.
 7. The aqueous fungicidalcomposition according to claim 3 where the natural surfactant is presentin an amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt. % of the total weight of thecomposition.
 8. (canceled)
 9. Method for the prevention, treatmentand/or management of the fusarium wilt on plants prone to such fungus,said method comprising the steps of: providing a fungicidal compositioncomprising karanj oil; applying said composition on said plants; whereinsaid step of applying is repeated as necessary and can be done until theday before harvest.
 10. (canceled)
 11. Method according to claim 9,wherein said composition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts.12. Method according to claim 9, wherein said composition furthercomprises a natural surfactant.
 13. Method according to claim 9, whereinsaid composition further comprises water as a solvent.
 14. A foodproduct classified as a ‘clean food’ or classified as ‘residue-free’grown in the presence of an aqueous fungicidal composition comprisingKaranj oil.
 15. The food product according to claim 14, wherein thecomposition further comprises fermented aloe vera extracts.
 16. The foodproduct according to claim 14, wherein the composition further comprisesfermented aloe vera extracts and a natural surfactant.
 17. The foodproduct according to claim 14, wherein the Karanj oil is present in anamount ranging from 1 to 5 wt % of the total weight of the composition.18. The food product according to claim 15, wherein the fermented aloevera extracts are present in an amount ranging from 40 to 60 wt % of thetotal weight of the composition.
 19. The food product according to claim16, wherein the natural surfactant is present in an amount ranging from30 to 60 wt % of the total weight of the composition.
 20. The foodproduct according to claim 16, wherein the natural surfactant is presentin an amount ranging from 35 to 45 wt % of the total weight of thecomposition. 21-35. (canceled)